INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
KATHMANDU, JULY 6A 32-year-old woman climber successfully scaled Nanga Parbat in Pakistan completing her tenth
8000er."I have just returned from the summit point of Nanga Parbat and have now completed 10 peaks above 8,000m," Dawa Yangzum Sherpa told
THT from the base camp.Born in Rolwaling valley of Dolakha district, Dawa Yangzum scaled the 8,126-metre peak as over 60 climbers stood atop
the mountain this season.
On a mission to complete all 14 peaks, Dawa Yangzum climbed Mt Kanchenjunga in the last spring
The first Asian woman IFMGA/UIAGM mountain guide Dawa Yangzum is the first Nepali woman to climb most 8,000m peaks, and has been mentoring
girls keen on mountaineering by providing climbing gear and training
World-famous companies such as Rolex, The North Face, Lekki and Oakley Sunglasses have appointed her as a brand ambassador.Dawa Yangzum is
the youngest K2 summiteer and also the first Nepali woman to have climbed Annapurna I without O2
She also made the first ever ascent of Mt Langdung
Besides, her successful climbs include K2, Everest and the first ascent of two mountains in Nepal
"She is one of three Nepali women who first climbed Mt K2 (8,611m) under the Women for Change Expedition in 2014."Being the professional
guide, Dawa Yangzum also led the National Geographic scientific research team to Mt Everest 2019, 2022 and 2023
She also holds the speed climbing record (female) on Makalu in 20 hours
Dawa Yangzum, who became the first woman to reach Manaslu true summit in autumn, has received many awards including Kumar Khadga Bikram
Sahasik Puruskar and Tenzing Hillary Award
She had climbed Mt Everest in 2012 as her first 8,000er.Dawa Yangzum, who is also the second vice president of Nepal Mountaineering
Association, plans to climb the remaining four peaks – GI, GII, Cho-Oyu and Sishapangma to complete all 14 peaks above 8,000m
"If everything goes on track, I will try to complete two more Karakoram peaks -GI and GII- this season," she said.
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://thehimalayantimes.com